Springfield Up/References

General

References/Trivia

Appearances

Gags

Credits

Quotes

Reception

Robert Canning named "Springfield Up" as one of the three "outstanding" episodes of the eighteenth season.

Material cut from the original American airing

Due to the fact that a new trailer for The Simpsons Movie aired during the original American broadcast, several scenes were cut from the episode that aired on FOX:

• The opening credits and couch gag were cut. The American version started with Declan Desmond's introduction, and the usual "created by Matt Groening" credits were shown over a shot of a playground.
• In the first airing, the final minute of the episode was cut, ending after Marge and Homer hugged. The extended ending featured Homer and Desmond singing a duet.

The version that aired in Canada on Global the same night did not feature the Movie trailer and as a result, the full version of the episode was aired. When the episode reaired on April 15, 2007, the cut material was restored, along with the original opening sequence.

Cultural references

• The character of Declan Desmond is based on naturalist and documentary filmmaker David Attenborough. Idle had previously voiced the character in "'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky" and "Fat Man and Little Boy".
• When Declan offers to show Homer the footage of why his life is blessed Homer begs Declan in a parody of A Christmas Carol.
• Declan Desmond's documentary project parallels Michael Apted's Up series.
• A parody of artist Andrew Wyeth's painting Christina's World, with Burns in the place of Christina, is visible after Burns pulls down another painting.
• Frink's time machine is nearly identical to the time machine in the 1960 film The Time Machine.
• Homer seems confused by the concept of Declan's documentaries and mocks his English accent, eventually concluding that the disparate filmings are unified by time travel, and that Declan is actually Doctor Who; Eric Idle was among a number of actors considered for the role of the Eighth Doctor.
• The slideshow of pictures showing Moe growing up is a parody of Michael Jackson's looks throughout the years.
• In one of the scenes from Homer's past, Homer creates a clay version of the play Equus.
• The scene where Homer is apologizing to Declan Desmond in his editing room is parody to the Christmas Story "A Christmas Carol".

Goofs

• In the scene where Marge and Homer are interviewed the first time with children, a photo showing Lisa and Maggie is visible in the background, though Lisa is still a baby and Maggie is still unborn.
• In the scene where Homer shows Marge his tattoo in the first part of the scene there is a wall behind the couch then when it zooms out for the second time there is a kitchen behind the couch.
• Homer and Marge are in the same playground at eight but met in high school at seventeen.
• This is the shortest Simpson episode (not including the Tracy Ullman shorts or Halloween segments) at 19 minutes and 49 seconds.